The Multicultural Council is celebrating 50 years of the Carrousel of the Nations festival in Windsor-Essex.
The annual summer festival invites residents to 37 villages around the community spread out over two weekends, June 13-15 and June 20-22.
"We just want people to have fun, enjoy their own culture, learn about someone else's culture and really get to know people on a human level, and that helps make Windsor-Essex a more welcoming place for all people," said Fred Francis, Executive Director of the Multicultural Council.
There are seven new villages this year, as well as favourite stops like the Polish Village, which has been part of the festival since its inception.
"When we organize the carrousel, the whole family is coming, all the neighbours, grandpas, grandmas, everybody is coming. It's an awesome, awesome opportunity for families to meet together and of course connect with friends," said Maria Kulesza, an organizer with the Polish Village. "We present our folklore, we invite groups from out of town, we invite groups of other nationalities to perform, it's a big mixture of culture."
The Carrousel of Nations has been named the top festival in Ontario for the last two years.
"To be able to share in that cultural diversity and the cultural mosaic in Windsor-Essex every year with Carrousel of the Nations, it really helps to celebrate everybody, and when we celebrate everyone, we learn about everyone's cultures, it really helps us eliminate bigotry, racism and discrimination," said Francis.
To find a full list of village locations and dates, visit carrouselofnations.com.